ocd horror stories

The social isolation. Take the person who has an OCD related to germs. They avoid social situations because they are afraid of coming into contact with something 'dirty'. This leads to them being cut off from friends, family, and normal social interactions, which is really disturbing.

There was a case where someone with OCD about orderliness. Their entire day was consumed with making sure everything in their house was in perfect alignment. If a book on the shelf was slightly out of place, they would have a panic attack. They spent hours arranging and rearranging things, losing touch with friends and family in the process.

They provide real examples. So we can directly see how OCD affects people.

Well, Zoloft is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). In OCD, the brain's serotonin system is often out of whack. Zoloft blocks the reuptake of serotonin, which means there's more serotonin available in the synapses. This helps to calm down the overactive neural pathways associated with OCD. So, people taking Zoloft may find that their obsessions become less frequent and their compulsions easier to resist. I know someone who used to have really bad OCD with counting compulsions. After taking Zoloft for a while, they were able to cut down on the counting significantly.

They can make others feel less alone. Knowing that someone else has similar experiences can be very comforting.

A friend of mine had OCD and was on Zoloft. Their OCD made it difficult for them to leave the house as they had to perform certain rituals repeatedly. But with Zoloft, they started to feel more at ease. After a while, they could simply step out without having to do those time - consuming rituals. It was like a new lease on life for them.

Yes. For example, someone managed to overcome suicide OCD by constantly reminding themselves of their values. They had a list of things they cared about, like their family and their dreams. Whenever the OCD thoughts came, they read the list and it helped them realize that they didn't really want to end their life. In this way, they gradually pushed the OCD thoughts away.

One success story is of a patient who had severe OCD for years. After deep brain stimulation, their compulsive behaviors like excessive hand - washing reduced significantly. They were able to regain control of their daily life and engage in social activities without the constant urge to perform rituals.

A friend of mine with OCD always has to have his pens lined up perfectly on his desk. One day, his little sister moved them all around. He got so flustered but then realized how ridiculous he was being and just laughed.

A great ocd success story is that of a young man who had OCD involving counting steps. Through consistent medication and regular psychotherapy sessions, he managed to overcome this. Medication helped to regulate the chemical imbalances in his brain, and psychotherapy taught him how to change his thought patterns. Now he can walk freely without being consumed by the need to count every step.